Combined separator and baffle



March 15, 1960 J. H. SCHNEIDER 2,928,496

COMBINED sEPARAToR AND BAFFLE Filed Nov. so, 195e JOHN H. SCHNEIDER ATTORN EY e 1C@ Patented Mar. '115, tasa Application November so, v1956, serial No. 62s,-3t1 s claims. (ci. isa-si) This invention relates to a combined separater and baille, and more particularly toa combined separator and baille used in air'purifying canisters for breathing apparatus.

Canisters, with which this invention pertains, are of the types used with breathing apparatus and having materials reactive with contaminated atmospheres to provide breathable air to the user ofthe apparatus. Such canisters usually comprise several layers of purifying chemicals customarily granular in form. When more .than one chemical composition is used, it is conventional to use a separating means between the different chemicals to maintain proper alignment and depths of chemical layers when the canisters are being filled and in use to prevent indiscriminate mixing of the chemicals andprovide correct purification. Also, it is conventional to use a foraminous material such as a screen for the separators to permit passage of air therethrough. Where it is desired that the air be mechanically filtered in addition to chemical purication, fiber-glass filters, and the like, rare employed with the separators. These filters arejusually the canister since this area is one of least fluid resistance.

Therefore, it has been found necessary to provide a baille with the separator which functions to prevent channelling by diverting the air away from the canister sides and provide a sealing means to prevent the nes from passing around the edges of the separator.

Up to the time of this invention, the standard practice of fabricating a combined baille and separator, for the purposes aforementioned, was to stamp out a flat screen, or the like, substantially to the size of the canister, and attach a baffle of flexible material circumferentiallyV of the screen by stapling the two partsV together. Such a fabricating procedure has been found to be highlyunsat- United States Patent isfactory due to the difficulty of providing a strong connection between the baille and separator, and of accurately positioning the two together whereby the combined baille and screen could be properly located in the canister. Furthermore, such manufacture is expensive because of the manufacturing time required, and because reinforcing material would be necessary in addition to the staples. Unless the baille and separator are accurately fabricated, it will not be possible, from a practical standpoint, to effectively prevent channelling of the respiratory air and prevent the chemical lines from passing into the breathing circuit.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to .provide a combined baille and separator which may be chemicals.

. 2 accurately, easily and inexpensively fabricated. w'l't isa. further object to provide a combined baille and separator whose parts are properly positioned relative to each other,

and whose parts are securely attached. A further ob, ject of this invention is to provide a combined baille and separator, which when used in a canister, will prevent channelling of respiratory air and prevent chemical fines from passing out of the canister. Another object ofk the invention is to provide a combined baille and separator comprising a screen having alternate portions ofv its edges stamped ,to provide a securing ineaiisfr. baille and provide a guide for accurately positioning the baille onto the screen; the baille extending circumferentially bf i the screen and having an edge extending beyond the edge of the separator providing a sealing means.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification and drawing in Fig. 1 is a vertical elevational view, partly in section, of a canister containing the combined separator 'and baille of this invention; Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalV view of the canister shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. 1; Y l

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view in vertical elevation of the separator and baille shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the `separator as vit appears prior to its being secured to the baille, and include'sa fragmentary phantom view of the baille prior to attachment; f

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectienal'vien/of the separator taken on line VI-VI of Fig. and showing a fragment of the Y baille in phantom lines; Y Fig. 7 is a planview of the 'baflle 'arid Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional v iew Vof the baille taken' 0 the bottom, and'then' sealing the "bottom as by sanering.

The type of canister Vand its detail-s, includiiigthe type of chemicals used, form nc part 'of ,the present invention other than those details as `are specifically associated with the combined separator and baille hereinafter described and claimed. Generally, consideration need be given only to the `fact thatnc'anister l1, comprises Va casing and is filled with layers v3 of purifying chemicals separated and/or confined by the combined separator and baille of this invention. Y

The combined separator and baille member is generally indicated by numeral 4 and comprises a separator 5 and baille 6. As will be noted in Fig. 1, a pluralityl of members 4 are shown separating and confining layers 3 of the lowermost layer 3 by spring members 7 (only one ter 1. A mechanical filter 9, made from liber-glass for example, overlays member 4 and functions to prevent the V passage of any chemical fines from escaping to the bottom of the canister while permitting the passagev of air. An identical mechanical filtering arrangement (not shown) is provided for the top of the canister to overlay the Y The lowermost member 4 is retained against,

canister; This avoidsV the abrasive action with formation otnes that `might occur if the granules were loose and free to rub against one-another.

Separator 5 is formed from` a at foraminous material,

-and generally, from metallic screenuoffa mesh smaller .than thezchemical granules, and is stamped tothe general rectangular shape of' canister V1. Noting particularly Figs. 5 yand 6, when separator 5 is fabricated, it is stamped tolshape and formed with alternately spaced securing tongues; 10 and 11, respectively, around the periphery of separator 5. Tongues 11, during fabrication are bent upwardly, 4leaving spaced horizontallyY disposed tongues `10. Batlle 6 is flat, rectangularlyshaped as separator 5, andis similar in appearance to a frame-shaped memi ber. Batlle 6 is `formed from a suitable exible material, `such as eitherI felt, glass cloth, or cotton.` When assembling bale 6 and lseparator 5, the baffle is` placed over and around the periphery of the ',separatorto overlay tongues 10 with the inner 4edgeoffthe batlleabutting upwardly extending tonguesll. Thus, tongues 11 form a jig ora-guide for placement of thepbafeton the separator. This assembly is partially depicted, in Figs 5 and 6 by Y phantom lines. After baflle 6 and separatorhave been so assembled, tongues 11 aredepressed VVincoplanar rela- ..tionship with tongues 10Hto firmly secure both' members together. By specically referringtoFig.,4,Jitjs seen that the separator V5 and baille 6 are secured ,inV aninter lacing'manner whereby they will not come apart,` As

=assembledbatlle 6 extends beyond the edges of tongues 10 and 11 to provide a freesealing edge 12 which is bent downwardly when member 4 is placed in the canister (Figsrl and 2). Thus, alternate sets of tongues of the ,separator overlay and underlay,` respectively, the baille when member 4 is assembled, and the tongues provide a vjig-for positioning the batlle relative tothe separator.

' `With the combined separator `and baille member 4 for separating various layers 3 of granular chemicals and a support for mechanical ilters, and thel like, to prevent fines from escaping either'through the bottom or the top of the canister. Also, sealing edge 12 of baille 6 kfabricated from substantially gas-impervious material closely hugsthe iside vwall ofA canister 1 to provide `a seal Vfor preventing fines from passing through the canister l.aroundthe edges of member 4; and the portion of baille 6 attached to the separator provides abaling means to prevent channelling of the air by diverting the air away from 'the sides of canister 1. Since the air must go around baille 6, etlicient purification throughthe chemical is provided. At the same time, the combined separator i' and baille member 4 may be easilyhand inexpensively fabricated, requiring nothing more than integral cooperating parts of the separator and baffle for accurately andY securely attaching the two together.

Having described the principle of the present .invention and having illustrated and described what is considered` .to beA the best embodiment, it is to be understood that,

f free edge.

withinwthe scope' of the appended claims, the invention may bepracticed otherwisefthan 'as specicallyillustrated and described. i

I claim:

1. A combined separator and baille for a-ir purifying devices comprising a first member for separating solid materials and a frame-shapedmember substantially impervious to gases surrounding said rst member, integral securing tongues extending along theV peripheral 4edge of said rst member, said members being attached together at the periphery of said `irst member by `said tongues,

-and said frame-shaped member ,interlacing said tongues to form an integrated unit when said members are attached.' Y Y l 2. A combinedseparator` and baille'for air purifying devices comprising a foraminous separator member and a flexible frame-shaped baffle member surrounding said separator member, integral securing tongues extending along the peripheral,` edge of said separatorlmember,'"sad lmembers being attached at the periphery of said separator member by said tongues, said baille member interlacing said tongues to form an integrated unit when said-members are attached, and 'said batlle `member `extending beyond rthe outer edges of said tongues providing a flexible V3. A combined separator and balllle for airi purifying Y devices comprising Aa at foraminous'separator Vmember ular to thev separator member-- and to proyide Yan interlaci ing with said batllemember whentrhe Asaidaltemate' positioned' in canister 1 member 4 provides a novel means and a Vflexible frame-shaped` baille member surrounding said separator member, integral securing tongues extending along the peripheral edge of said separator member, said tongues being constructed and arrangedto provide a locating means for `the frame-shaped baille member t when alternate tongues are Vbent substantially perpendictongues 'are rebentfsubstantially horizontaleto the separator member forming an integratediunit of said separator and said ,baille members, and said baille memberrextend `ing beyond the outer edgesof said tongues providing 'a flexiblefree edge.

References Cited in the `tile of 'this patent UNITED STATES "PATENTS 

